Improvement in street-lighting apparatus



3 Sheets--Sheej 1'.

l. L. EWIN. Street-Lighting Apparfatus.

3 Sheets--Sheet 2.

l. L. EWIN. `Street-Lighting Appartus.

NOIIOQ, PatentedMay19.l874.

wnvNEss l INVENTO Nrrnn JAMES; L. nwm, or wasnrneron, nrsrnrcr or eotmunni.

IMPROVEMENT IN STREET-LIGHTiNG APPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. HLlGQ, dated May 19, 1874; application filed May 2, 1874.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES LITHGOW EWIN, of the city and county of Vashingt-on, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Street-Lighting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification `exerts as its space is 'increased by the discharge of oil, and to the necessity for renewing the supply of air at short intervals, whereas the practical success of the system depends very much on long-continued automatic action. The use of atmospheric air is objectionable also, owing to the fact that it forms with the vapors of the light hydrocarbons an explosive or highly inflammable and offensive gas. The discharge of this, when a new supply of oil is to be introduced, is attended with more or less inconvenience and danger.

The present invention consists in the employment or use of water under pressure from the water-supply mains or service-pipes as means for elevating` or feeding the oil, the operation to be governed by suitable cocks or valves. The invention consists further in means for discharging the water when a new supply of oil is to be introduced, and for'preventing the escape of water when the supply of oil is eX- hausted, and for preventing the escape of oil with the water, and for securing the apparatus against being tampered with, a-s hereinafter set forth.

The improved apparatus is simple, safe, and inexpensive; it involves the employment of no separate apparatus, as for compressing air or pumping in the oil 5 and it is applicable to the feeding of oil to burners for any purpose and in any location where a connection with a water-supply main or service-pipe can be made.

Figure lis an elevation of an ordinary lamppost with separate oil-supply' apparatus attached beneath the pavement, illustrating this invention in a preferred form. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the hydraulic oil-supply apparatus on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a vertical section with plane at right angles to that of Fig. 2, showing the reservoir (in bucket-form) removed. Fig. 4 is an elevation on the same scale as Fig. l, illustrating the arrangement of the improved oil-supply apparatus within the lamp-post. Fig. 5 is a partial vertical section of the same on a larger scale. Fig. G is a view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, illustrating the employment of an automatic valve to prevent the escape of oil, the same being applied to a modified form of underground or separate apparatus. Figs. 7 and 8 are vertical sections of other modified forms of underground or separate apparatus. Figs. 9 and l0 are vertical: sections in different planes, representing an automatic valve for preventing the escape of water. Fig. ll is a vertical section illustra-ting a modification of the mode of locking the apparatus shown in Figs. l and 2. Figs. l2 and 13 are, respectively, an elevation and a plan view illustrating other modiiied modes of locking the apparatus. Fig. let is an elevationillustratinga modification in which the oil-barrel or keg constitutes the reservoir, the oil being fed ldiv rectly therefrom.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The primary part of this apparatus is an oil and water tight reservoir, lt, which for thel general purposes of the invention may be of any approved form, construction, and size; but is preferably adapted to contain several gallons, so as to supply one or more burners with oil for a period of one or more weeks. A removable cap or cover, C, provides for illing the reservoir with oil. A pipe, W, connects the reservoir with a water-supply main or service-pipe, so that the pressure of the "water within the main or pipe may be. applied,

directly or indirectly, to ,the oil. A second pipe, O, leads from the upper end ofthe reservoir, for conducting the cil to the burner B, which may be of any approved form.`

ln a preferred form of the apparatus (illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, and 14) thc invention is applied to the ordinary simple form of gas-lamp post L, Fig. l, without any alteration thereof. The apparatus in this form is located beneath the pavement, at the foot of the lamp-post, in a well or vault, E, of suficient size, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. A cast-iron boX, B', may form the walls of this vault, and be provided with a removable flat cover, b, of circular or other form, similar to an ordinary sewer-trap cover. The lamp-post L, the box B', and the reservoir within the latter may be supported on stone or wooden sills A, Fig. l, when necessary.

Where danger of freezing in winter does not exist, and new posts are required, the apparatus in simple form may be combined with the lamp-post L2, as illustrated in Figs. 4. and 5, the reservoir being formed by an enlargement near the base ot' the post. In this form no well or vault whatever is required.

For shutting oli' the Water when the reservoir is to be emptied and reiilled with oil, a stop cock or valve, S, is provided in the water-pipe W. This cock may be of ordinary construction, and may be arranged at any convenient point; but by preference itis arranged within the well or box B of the underground form of the apparatus, and furnished with an extended handle-rod, T, and it is arranged within the lamp-post L2, above the ground level, in the other form of the apparatus, as illustrated. The iiow of the water and oil may be regulated by means of this cock and the ordinary stop-cock SZ at the burner, and this may be accomplished by making the cocks with passages of proper relative size.

For discharging the water when a new supply of oil is to be introduced a variety of means may be employed. In all cases the stop-cock S in the water-pipe is closed preliminary to this operation.

In the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the reservoir R is removable, to provide for emptying it, and is inclosed and supported by a receptacle, B', to which the cap C and pipes W O are applied. The reservoir-bucket is constructed with feet z and a notch, y, so as not to obstruct the inlet and outlet openings, and the water has access to the bucket at bottom through orifices in a perforated cylinder, x, within which is a piston-valve, w, with stem o extending to the top of the bucket, Where it is supported by a crossbar, a. A hinged bail, t, facilitates handling the bucket. In elevated position, as shown in Fig. 2, the valve w is open. Depressed, the valve is closed, when the bucket, with its contents, may be removed,

as illustrated by Fig. 3, the lid C being opened for this purpose. The removed bucket is emptied by opening the valve, and the discharge is stopped by closing the valve when oil is seen to escape. The bucket may then be filled with oil and replaced, or it may be replaced empty and then refilled. A small quantity of water or water and oil will be left in the receptacle It when the bucket R is removed, but

With the refilled bucket in position and its valve w open the cap C is closed and secured, and the water-cock S is opened. The apparatus is then ready for use until the supply of oil is exhausted.

In the form of apparatus illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 a simple discharge-cock, I), is applied to the bottom of the reservoir. This is opened and the contents are thus permitted to flow out into the street-gutter until oil is seen to escape, when the cock is closed. The cap G is then, or previously, removed, and oil is poured in thereat until the reservoir is full. The cap C is then replaced and the water-cock S reopened.

This mode of discharging the water may also be applied to any of the underground forms of the apparatus in places where the soil is sufficiently sandy to carry off the waste water.

To admit air above the discharging liquids in the reservoir a simple automatic valve, V, may be applied to a vent oriice in the cap C, as illustrated in Fig. 5, and this feature is applicable to any i'orm of the'apparatus in which a iixed reservoir is used.

In the form illustrated in Fig. 6 a discharge-cock, D, is applied to a pipe, W2, eX- tending upward from the water-pipe W, between the reservoir and the stop-cock S, and a portable pump is applied to the upper end of said discharge -pipe for drawing off the water.

In another modification of the apparatus the reservoir may be of sufficient size to supply several park-lamps, for instance and, in this case, a sewer connection for carrying off the waste water may be provided. The escape of oil after the water in this form of apparatus may be prevented by an automatic valve, V2, Fig. 6, applied to the orifice through which the discharge occurs, and this valve may consist of a ball, s, which will float in water, but not in oil, in combination with a seat, s', and cage r, as shown. A simple piston, I, to separate between the water and oil, may be employed, instead of this automatic valve, in a cylindrical reservoir, as illustrated in Fig. 7, and this will serve also to prevent the escape of water through the burner should the supply of oil be entirely exhausted before the reservoir is refilled.

In the form of apparatus illustrated in Fig. 8, a piston, I, to form the top of the waterspace, is provided with a rod, q, extending through a stuffing-box, p, in the top of the reservoir, and having a cross-head, o, above the latter, to the ends of which springs a are attached, illustrating the application of one or more springs or weights to the piston as means for ejecting the water when the discharge-A cock is opened. With this provision a short hose is all that is required in connection with the discharge-cock to carry off the waste wa ter from an underground apparatus.

In those forms of the apparatus in which a piston cannot readily be employed, as illus trated'by Figs. 1 to 5, when means is desired for preventing the escape of water `through the burner in the event of a failure to reiill the reservoir before the oil isexhausted, an automatic valve, V3, may be introduced into the oil-pipe O, Figs. 9 and 10, at any point above the reservoir. In the form shown, this valve consists of a ball, m, Figs. 9 and l0, which will oat in water, but not in oil, in

combination with a iiat circular case, Z, hav-V ing necks l 2 at bottom and top, a valve-seat, 3, within the former, and a basket or cage, 4, formed by wires driven through from side to side to support the valve in proper proximity to its seat.

To secure the apparatus against being tainpered with, in that form of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the upper end of thevstem T of the stop-cock S in the watervpipe, and the cap C at an adjoining point, are

furnished with hasps 7o k2 engaging with a sin gle staple, j, to which a padlock, i, is applied. The hasp of the valve-rod T serves also as a handle for turning it.

A modification of this device is illustrated in Fig. 11. In'this form a single hasp, 7;, with a bent extension, k1, is employed, in combination with a valve-rod having an ordinary crosshandle.

In that form of l the apparatus shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the cap C, water-cock S, and disehargecock D are all adapted to be turned by one and the same loose key, to be carried by the proper person.

A mode of locking up those forms of the apparatus, illustrated by Figs. 6, 7 and 8, is shown in Figs. 12 and 13. The means are analogous to those shown in Figs. l and 2, and consist of hasps 7c k2 k3 applied to the cap C, discharge-cock D, and valve-rod T, respectively, and a single staple, j, with which all engage, and to which a single padlock, i, Figs. l and 2, may be applied to secure the whole, the hasps serving also as lever-handles for the parts to which they are applied.

If preferred, the lock may be applied to the lplate b, Fig. 1, by which the well of the nnderground apparatus is covered.

In the modiiication illustrated in Fig. 14 the barrel or keg in which the oil is received is employed in lieu of a distinct reservoir. The barrel is tapped in the ordinary way, and a cock, S, is inserted in the faucet-hole. The

The following is claimed herein as new,

namely:

1. The combination of a street-lamp, an oilreservoir, R, a pipe, W, for applying water under pressure from a water-'supply main or service-pipe, and a pipe, 0, for conducting the oil to the burner, substantially as herein de= scribed.

2. The combination of a street-lamp, :an oil= reservoir, R, with cap G, a pipe, W, with stopa cock S, for applying water under pressure from a watersupply main or serviccpipe, and

va discharge-cock, D, for drawing oft' the water when the reservoir is to be relled with oil, substantially as herein specified.

3. The combination of a street-lamp, an oilreservoir, R, a water-pipe, IV, an oil-conductg ing pipe, O, a discharge-cock, D, for drawing off the water, and a piston, I, to prevent the escape of either the water or the oil through the outlet of the other, substantially as herein set forth.

4. The combination of a street-lamp, an oilL reservoir, R, a water-pipe, W, an oilLconduct ing pipe, O, a discharge-cock, D, for rdrawing oli' the water, a piston, I,`and,one or more springs or weights applied to the latter for automatically ejecting the water when the discharge-cock is opened, substantially as herein shown and described.

5. The combination, with the reservoir R, and its cap G, and water-supply cock S, oi' the stem T applied to the latter, one or more hasps, k, a single staple, j, and a single pad locln'z', for securing these parts in the manner set forth, so as to prevent tampering with the apparatus.

JAS. L. EWIN. Witnesses:

WVM/rien ALLEN,

H. Pannen. 

